Sixteen new dwellings will be built in Werribee in an effort to address youth homelessness in the municipality and provide support to those in need.
Melbourne City Mission will build 10 dwellings at Margaret Street, and six in Glenluss Street, with about $5,370,000 to be supplied by the state government.
“We are addressing youth homelessness and this investment ensures that commitment continues and helps to give young people a place to call home,” Housing Minister Colin Brooks said.
“These new homes will ensure more homes are available for young people to give them the support they need to thrive as adults.
“The stability of having a roof over their head will support these young people to learn and develop, setting them up for success in rest of their lives.”
In the five years between 2011 and the latest estimates of homelessness by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2016, Wyndham recorded an increase of 76.3 per cent in its homeless population, increasing from 420 people reporting homelessness in 2011, to 730 people in 2016.
The ABS’ definition of homeless people also takes into account, people staying with friends or family, or living in temporary accommodation such as rooming houses, motels and transitional housing.
The state government said the new homes will deliver a range of housing options including youth foyers that combine housing with education, employment and other support services, or youth supported accommodation and facilities for young people leaving out of home care.
The homes will be in highly accessible locations in walking distance of education, employment, public transport, retail and community services and feature energy efficient design in a bid to help young renters keep their bills low.
More than a hundred new homes will also be built across the state, including in South Morang.
Hope Street Youth and Family Services, who will build youth housing in South Morang, has welcomed the investment.
Chief executive Donna Bennett said she’s “delighted” the state government has invested in “such worthwhile youth-specific projects across the state for disadvantaged young people and young families experiencing homelessness”.
“After such an extended period of time where youth investment hasn’t kept pace with other social housing investment it’s positive to see some change,” she said.
However, Ms Bennett said that with 6000 young people experiencing homelessness at any one time, “this has to be the first step”.
“The Youth Housing grant round of $50m is .94 per cent of the Big Housing Build’s $5.3billion, yet 16 per cent homeless people in Victoria are aged 15 to 24,” she said.
“In fact, it is highly likely the figure is much higher due the hidden nature of youth homelessness.”
